Cuts from reforms may clash with "troubled families" initiative
- 05 Nov
Plans to tackle 120,000 ‘troubled families' might be derailed by changes to welfare benefits, local authorities have warned.
A report by the Child Poverty Action Group into the impact of welfare reform in London has found that local authorities said households likely to be
hit by the changes to benefits may also have significant social problems.
The ‘troubled families' initiative was launched by prime minister David Cameron in August 2011, in the wake of the riots in London and other cities. The programme aims to turn around the lives of 120,000 families with a history of anti-social behaviour.
But CPAG said its research into the impact of welfare reform on local authorities showed ‘conflicts' between the changes and other government priorities.
‘Several local authorities had identified a cross over between families caught by the benefit cap and those meeting the criteria the government identifies families as requiring significant intervention and support,' the report says.
‘Authorities face a dilemma between prioritising these families for help and therefore being seen to offer housing stability as a reward for potential anti-social behaviour, or of seeing these families' lives destabilised by disruptions to their housing.'
The report, Between a rock and a hard place, looked at the impact of three welfare cuts on famililes in London: local housing allowance caps introduced in April 2011, the overall benefit cap due to come in from April 2013, and under-occupation penalties for working age social tenants claiming housing benefit that are due to come in at the same time.
It found the reforms will disproportionately hit children in London because 49 per cent of families affected by the benefit cap are in the capital.
‘Families already affected by the LHA caps are facing significant disruption to their children's lives,' the report states.
Source: Third Sector
Image source:http://www.sxc.hu/photo/832858
Related articles
- 28 Aug
Figures find thousands of benefit claimants died after found fit for work
Over 80 people a month have died shortly after being declared “fit to work” prompting campaigners to call for an overhaul of the government’s welfare system, reports the Guardian.Figures from...
- 24 Aug
Disability campaigners concerned over benefit shakeups
The Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is set to announce new reforms to sickness benefits in the hope to get more people into work, reports the Guardian.It is expected the Mr Duncan Smith...
- 07 Aug
Single parents are being hit by benefit cuts
Government statistics detailing who has been affected by the policy have found that in May 2015 49% were single parents with children under the age of five, reports the Guardian.It is being said that...
- 30 Jul
Government to review helping benefit claimants back into work
Led by Professor Dame Carol Black, the inquiry will consider the case for linking people who are entitled to benefits with accepting appropriate treatment or support, reports 24dash.The review's...
- 23 Jul
Call for review of benefits delivery
The inquiry will look at the problems that could occur when benefits are underpaid or delayed, reports 24dash. The Committee invites written evidence on: Frank Field MP, chair of the committee,...
- 15 May
11,400 tenants could be affected by new benefits cut
Inside Housing have analysed data from the government's Stat-Xplore website and has found that 11,449 social housing tenants are set to be affected by the governments plans to remove housing benefit...
- 24 Mar
Deaths due to benefit sanctions should have independent investigations
A report into benefit sanctions by the Work and Pensions Committee has said that suicides linked to sanctions should be scrutinised in a similar manner to deaths in police custody, reports Inside...
- 11 Mar
Charity finds benefit sanctions regime to be flawed
A report conducted for Crisis by the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University found that benefit claimants were subject to a ‘postcode lottery' on whether or...
- 30 Oct
Cuts to employment and support allowance benefits
With these cuts it could see new claimants being given just 50p more per week than people who are on job seekers allowance, reports the BBC. The Department for Work and Pensions have said the ESA...
- 10 Oct
Proposed benefit rule labelled ‘worse than poor law'
The Social Security Advisory Committee is currently cons ulting on the proposals which George Osborne first announced in June 2013, reports Inside Housing.The seven day wait would occur on top of the...
Revenue Optimisation "I am really impressed with Support Solutions and how small organisations are supported with information and training" Susan Harrison (Tenant Support Services)
